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and plays； and everyday sights； is past with them。〃
Here their conversation closed； the demands of the dance
becoming now too importunate for a divided attention。
Soon after their reaching the bottom of the set；
Catherine perceived herself to be earnestly regarded by a
gentleman who stood among the lookers…on； immediately behind
her partner。 He was a very handsome man； of a commanding
aspect； past the bloom； but not past the vigour of life；
and with his eye still directed towards her； she saw him
presently address Mr。 Tilney in a familiar whisper。
Confused by his notice； and blushing from the fear of
its being excited by something wrong in her appearance；
she turned away her head。 But while she did so；
the gentleman retreated； and her partner； coming nearer；
said； 〃I see that you guess what I have just been asked。
That gentleman knows your name； and you have a right
to know his。 It is General Tilney； my father。〃
Catherine's answer was only 〃Oh！〃but it was an 〃Oh！〃
expressing everything needful： attention to his words；
and perfect reliance on their truth。 With real interest
and strong admiration did her eye now follow the general；
as he moved through the crowd； and 〃How handsome a family
they are！〃 was her secret remark。
In chatting with Miss Tilney before the evening concluded；
a new source of felicity arose to her。 She had never taken
a country walk since her arrival in Bath。 Miss Tilney；
to whom all the commonly frequented environs were familiar；
spoke of them in terms which made her all eagerness
to know them too； and on her openly fearing that she
might find nobody to go with her； it was proposed by
the brother and sister that they should join in a walk；
some morning or other。 〃I shall like it；〃 she cried；
〃beyond anything in the world； and do not let us put it
offlet us go tomorrow。〃 This was readily agreed to；
with only a proviso of Miss Tilney's； that it did not rain；
which Catherine was sure it would not。 At twelve
o'clock； they were to call for her in Pulteney Street；
and 〃Remembertwelve o'clock；〃 was her parting speech
to her new friend。 Of her other； her older； her more
established friend； Isabella； of whose fidelity and worth
she had enjoyed a fortnight's experience； she scarcely
saw anything during the evening。 Yet； though longing
to make her acquainted with her happiness； she cheerfully
submitted to the wish of Mr。 Allen； which took them
rather early away； and her spirits danced within her；
as she danced in her chair all the way home。
CHAPTER 11
The morrow brought a very sober…looking morning；
the sun making only a few efforts to appear； and Catherine
augured from it everything most favourable to her wishes。
A bright morning so early in the year； she allowed；
would generally turn to rain； but a cloudy one foretold
improvement as the day advanced。 She applied to
Mr。 Allen for confirmation of her hopes； but Mr。 Allen；
not having his own skies and barometer about him；
declined giving any absolute promise of sunshine。
She applied to Mrs。 Allen； and Mrs。 Allen's opinion was
more positive。 〃She had no doubt in the world of its
being a very fine day； if the clouds would only go off；
and the sun keep out。〃
At about eleven o'clock； however； a few specks of small
rain upon the windows caught Catherine's watchful eye；
and 〃Oh！ dear； I do believe it will be wet；〃 broke from
her in a most desponding tone。
〃I thought how it would be；〃 said Mrs。 Allen。
〃No walk for me today；〃 sighed Catherine； 〃but perhaps
it may come to nothing； or it may hold up before twelve。〃
〃Perhaps it may； but then； my dear； it will be so dirty。〃
〃Oh！ That will not signify； I never mind dirt。〃
〃No；〃 replied her friend very placidly； 〃I know you
never mind dirt。〃
After a short pause； 〃It comes on faster and faster！〃
said Catherine； as she stood watching at a window。
〃So it does indeed。 If it keeps raining； the streets
will be very wet。〃
〃There are four umbrellas up already。 How I hate
the sight of an umbrella！〃
〃They are disagreeable things to carry。 I would
much rather take a chair at any time。〃
〃It was such a nice…looking morning！ I felt
so convinced it would be dry！〃
〃Anybody would have thought so indeed。 There will
be very few people in the pump…room； if it rains all
the morning。 I hope Mr。 Allen will put on his greatcoat
when he goes； but I dare say he will not； for he had rather
do anything in the world than walk out in a greatcoat；
I wonder he should dislike it； it must be so comfortable。〃
The rain continuedfast； though not heavy。
Catherine went every five minutes to the clock；
threatening on each return that； if it still kept on
raining another five minutes； she would give up the matter
as hopeless。 The clock struck twelve； and it still rained。
〃You will not be able to go； my dear。〃
〃I do not quite despair yet。 I shall not give
it up till a quarter after twelve。 This is just
the time of day for it to clear up； and I do think it
looks a little lighter。 There； it is twenty minutes
after twelve； and now I shall give it up entirely。
Oh！ That we had such weather here as they had at Udolpho；
or at least in Tuscany and the south of France！the
night that poor St。 Aubin died！such beautiful weather！〃
At half past twelve； when Catherine's anxious attention
to the weather was over and she could no longer claim
any merit from its amendment； the sky began voluntarily
to clear。 A gleam of sunshine took her quite by surprise；
she looked round； the clouds were parting； and she instantly
returned to the window to watch over and encourage the
happy appearance。 Ten minutes more made it certain that a
bright afternoon would succeed； and justified the opinion
of Mrs。 Allen； who had 〃always thought it would clear up。〃
But whether Catherine might still expect her friends；
whether there had not been too much rain for Miss Tilney
to venture； must yet be a question。
It was too dirty for Mrs。 Allen to accompany her
husband to the pump…room； he accordingly set off by himself；
and Catherine had barely watched him down the street
when her notice was claimed by the approach of the same
two open carriages； containing the same three people
that h